This Mini Projector Beats More Expensive Models (and Took 5 Minutes To Set Up)

Dangbei N2 Mini Projector

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Dangbei N2 Mini projector is connected waste connected Amazon for $189.
• The N2 Mini is 1 of nan easiest projectors to setup I've used, and delivers crisp 1080p video without overmuch fuss.
• Unfortunately, it's constricted to 1080p and does not do 4K, and you'll want to link a Bluetooth speaker.

I've utilized plentifulness of projectors complete nan years. Back successful nan day, they were a symptom to group up and use, pinch complex, vulnerable soul components and finnicky builds. Fortunately, they've travel a agelong way, and now make projecting video considerably easier.

Also: The champion projectors you tin buy: Expert tested

But of each nan projectors I've tried, nan Dangbei N2 Mini resets nan barroom connected simplicity.

Let's chat astir it.

My experience

Often, erstwhile I person a projector to review, I cognize that I'll person to dedicate other clip to get it group up and put it done its paces. One of nan main reasons for this is that projectors are notoriously finicky; from getting nan image correct (keystoning) to uncovering nan correct input for immoderate root you want to use. 

When I unboxed nan Dangbei M2 Mini, my first thought was, "This is cute." With its built-in guidelines (that offers plentifulness of angles for easy setup), nan small feline looks for illustration a robot from Star Wars that has an eccentric, snobby sidekick.

Also: I built nan eventual location theatre setup pinch these 3 products - here's my buying advice

Once retired of nan box, I consulted nan manual, assuming this was going to beryllium tricky to group up. It wasn't.

In fact, it took maine longer to input my Wi-Fi password than it did to group nan projector up. From unboxing to projecting, it took possibly 5 minutes, tops. And retired of nan box, nan keystoning was spot on. 

The Dangbei N2 Mini distant makes interacting pinch nan projector a snap.

Jack Wallen/ZDNET

Of course, that could person been a fortunate conjecture connected nan region and perspective of my setup, but I'm going to person to springiness in installments wherever in installments is due. The reality is that nan N2 uses what nan institution calls InstanPro AI image setup, which takes each of nan guesswork retired of getting nan champion image. The consequence is astir arsenic plug-and-play arsenic a projector tin be.

After firing up Netflix connected nan projector, I was met pinch nan device's first trade-off: nan speaker. It's small, truthful it doesn't really get large capable for nan purpose, and nan audio value is decidedly lacking. Luckily, you tin link a Bluetooth speaker instead, which drastically improves nan experience. 

Another trade-off that mightiness move immoderate consumers off: it isn't tin of projecting 4K. The champion it tin do is 1080p. Fortunately, nan image is still rather sharp, and I didn't find myself longing for 4K. I will opportunity this: nan N2 Mini only offers 200 ISO lumens, which intends it's not a viable action for projecting successful daylight (or agleam light). Because of that, you will request to return lighting into relationship erstwhile utilizing nan projector.

The autofocus characteristic is beautiful impressive. Most often, I could move nan task distant aliases toward nan projection surface, and it would quickly auto-adjust to support nan image clear. I did tally into a mates of instances wherever I had to do immoderate manual adjustments via nan remote, but nan N2 Mini moreover makes this easy. You don't moreover person to entree nan projector's paper for this. Just property nan -/+ buttons connected nan distant to set nan focus.

Also: I yet recovered a 4K projector worthy of replacing my TV - and it's nan brightest 1 I've tested

After I did my first testing pinch Netflix, I decided to connect 1 of my cameras to nan task to spot really it would grip that. To my surprise, it worked for illustration a charm. All I had to do was deed nan Home fastener connected nan remote, prime HDMI arsenic nan input, and nan image from nan camera was there. There's besides a USB-2 relationship (which I did not test), but I would ideate it would usability precisely for illustration nan HDMI input.

Netflix isn't nan only app disposable for nan projector. In fact, location are astir 300 apps you tin adhd (from Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and more). The OS that runs nan task is simply a stripped-down type of Linux, truthful it's besides reliable, and nan UI is responsive.

ZDNET's buying advice

Given that this projector sells for $200 connected Amazon, it should beryllium considered a steal. Even though it doesn't task successful 4K, you still get a crisp image that is ever successful focus, and if nan thought of mounting up a analyzable task turns you disconnected from utilizing them, fearfulness not, because nan Dangbei N2 Mini is easy capable for anyone to get up and running. 

If you're looking for a measurement to entertain, inform, aliases amended group pinch nan thief of a projector, you'd beryllium hard-pressed to find a amended bargain than nan Dangbei N2 Mini.

How does it compare?

Here's really nan Dangbei N2 Mini compares to 2 different comparable mini projectors: nan XGIMI MoGo 2 Pro, and nan Nebula Capsule 3 Pocket Projector. 

Additional tech specs

• 190° tilt pinch nan built-in gimbal stand.
• Integrated powerfulness board.
• Nearly 300 apps (with dedicated distant buttons for Netflix, YouTube, aliases Prime Video).
• Native 1080P, up to 120" pinch a 40-120 inch projection size.
• InstanPro AI Image Setup exertion features Auto Focus, Auto Keystone Correction, Screen Fit, and Obstacle Avoidance.
• EngineX sealed optical motor (Standard mode < 27dB@25°C, Distance: 1m).
• Dolby Audio.
• Homeshare app for telephone casting.

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